Log barker with vane-actuated barking arms



June 22, 1965 G. E. ROBBINS 3,190,327

LOG BARKER WITH VANE-ACTUA'I'ED BARKING ARMS Filed Nov. 30, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l W V 1: l l n n i i /a I 55 6. o a 5 June 22, 1965 G. E. ROBBINS LOG BARKER WITH VANE-ACTUATED BARKING ARMS Filed NOV. 30, 1959 i l E36 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- BY WMX G. E. ROBBINS LOG BARKER WITH VANE-ACTUATED BARKING ARMS June 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 50, 1959 m h W5 BY W,MM

United States Patent 3,199,327 LOG BARKER WITH VANE-ACTUATED EARRING ARMS George E. Robbins, Tacoma, Wash, assignor to Nicholson 7 Manufacturing Company, Auburn, Wash, a corporation of Washington Filed Nov. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 856,230 Claims. (Cl. 144-408) This invention relates to log barkers of the rotary ring type and in particular to such barkers having barking arms swung by vane-type actuators. The barker in general is similar to the log barker disclosed in the prior Patent No. 2,802,495.

The principal object of the present invention is to simplify the mechanism for swinging barking arms which may be pivotally mounted on a rotary barking ring through which the logs to be barked are fed axially and nonrotatively. Specifically it is an object to swing such arms by pneumatic actuators of the vane type which include vanes swingable about the same axes as the barking arms.

Another object is to provide such vane-type actuators for barking arms which will be lighter and more compact than the actuators previously used for swinging such arms and which, in addition, will have fewer parts than previous actuators for this purpose. Consequently, the expense of construction and maintenance problems are considerably reduced.

In providing vane-actuated barking arms it is a further object to mount the actuators so that they can be adjusted relative to the barle'ng ring for altering the range through which the barking arms can be swung relative to the barking ring by such actuators.

It is also an object to provide an effective seal for the vane of the actuator.

The aforesaid objects of the present invention can be accomplished by providing vane-type actuators for the barking arms which include vanes integral with the respective barking arms swingable about the barking arm pivots and extending outwardly from such pivots generally oppositely to the barking arms extending inwardly from such pivots. These vanes are received in sector-shaped housings which are mounted for swinging about the axes of the barker arms for angular adjustment to vary the range through which the barking arms can swing. Air under pressure is supplied to such vane housings for the purpose of swinging the vanes to press them into engagement with a log to the barked. A unitary strip of resilient elastorner material is received in a groove in the edge of the vane having a height in cross section when in the vane edge groove slightly greater than the depth of such groove and which strip has at least one groove extending lengthwise of its inner edge to enable such edge to be spread against the groove sides to seal the vane edges.

, FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of the log barker viewed from the outfeed side of the rotatable barking tool mounting ring.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view through ring supporting structure of the barker taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a detail sectional view of an edge portion of the vane in a plane extending transversely of the vane, and FIGURE 5 is a similar view showing parts in exploded relationship.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view through a portion of the vane housing.

The general assembly of the log barker is similar to that of prior Patent No. 2,802,495 mentioned above in that the barker includes a ring I mounted for rotation in a stationary ring 2, which is supported by slides 3 carried by opposite ends of an upper cross beam 4 and a lower cross beam. These slides engage upright guides 5 along which the slides may be moved by frame supporting rods 6 so as to adjust the elevation of the ring 1 to center its opening 7 relative to a log L the underside of which is supported by carrier mechanism which is not adjustable in elevation. The ring 1 carries sprocket teeth 8 with which a chain 9 is engaged to rotate the ring during a log barking operation.

The rotary barking ring 1 is supported for rotation by circumferentially spaced arcuate shoes 10 tiltably mounted on ball and socket supports 11 which can be adjusted radially by threads 12 and locked firmly in the proper adjusted position by lock nuts 13.

On the rotary ring 1 are mounted barking arms 14 respectively swingable about the axes of pivots 15 which are spaced circumferentially of the ring. The number of arms utilized may differ in different barkers, four such arms being shown in the Patent No. 2,802,495 and five such arms being provided in the barker shown in FIGURE 1. A greater number of arms can be provided in barkers of the present design than for barkers utilizing the structure shown in such prior patent because of the more compact character of the arm-swinging actuators. The arms 14 are inclined inwardly from the pivots 15 in directions such that the barking tools 16 trail behind respective radial lines passing through the axis of the log being barked and the respective pivot axes of the arms. The degree of inclination of these arms during a barking operation will vary depending upon the size of the log being barked.

Integral with each swingable barking arm 14 and projecting outwardly from the barking arm pivot 15 is a vane 17 disposed in a plane parallel to the rotative axis of the barking ring and extending radially of the arm pivot. Consequently, this vane in each instance will swing conjointly withthe swinging of the arm and through a corresponding angle. Each vane is received in a housing '18 having parallel side walls 19 of sector shape'and outwardly flaring end walls 20 and 21 shown in FIGURE 3. These side walls are spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of the vane 17 and the end wall are inclined generally radially of the arm pivot 15 and are disposed at an angle approximately equal to the total possible angular movement of the vanes 17. The outer side of the housing is formed by an arcuate wall 22 which bridges between the outer ends of the side walls 19 and the end walls 20 and 21. A cylindrically arcuate wall 23 concentric with the axis of pivot 15 joins the inner ends of the end walls 20 and 21 and bridges between the inner portions of the side walls 19.

Theinner portion of each vane housing is received within a V-shaped notch 24 of the ring 1, the opposite sides of which are disposed in planes parallel to the axis of the corresponding pivot 15 and which diverge at an angle greater than the angle of divergence of the housing walls 20, 21. The housing 18 can therefore rock within the notch 24 and about the axis of pivot 15 to vary the circumferential position of the housing about such axis for the purpose of adjusting the position of the angular range through which the vane 17 can swing. Consequently, the position of the swingable range of the corresponding arm 14 is varied for the purpose of adjusting the positions of closest approach of the barking tools 16 as the arms swing inward. Because of such availability of circumferential adjustment of the housings 18, it is not necessary for such housings to be of an arcuate extent to enable the vanes 17 to move within them for enabling the arms to swing between their maximum outswing inward so that the barking tools can almost touch. On the other hand, if large logs are customarily barked by the machine, the housings 18 can be adjusted circurn -l These O-rings are connected byarod 37 of rubber ma- I terial which forms a seal between the hub 34 and the ferentially so that the arms 14 can swing intoa position enabling the tools 16 to be retracted outward to clear the aperture through the barkingring.

It is, of course, necessaryto provide mechanism for holding each housing 18 firmly in its circumferentially portion23 of the housing extending parallel to the axis ofthe pivot 15.! Such sealing means serves both to prevent leakage of air from the vanehousing past the ends of the hub 34 and also prevents leakage from one side of the vaneto the other around the hub 34. 'The rod 37 may be received in a groove extendinglengthwise of the hub as shown in FIGURE 3'. e

'rnentally splined collars- 38 having projections .39' which adjusted position. For this purpose ears 25 are provided on opposite sides of the housing to which bolts 25 are pivotally connected. At the opposite sides of the notches 24 lugs 27 are provided, recessed to receive cross-pins 28 ofcollars slidable on the bolts 26. These collars are held in theldesired adjusted positions by lock nuts threaded on the bolts atopposite sides of the collars as shown" i V splined ends-of the pivotaxle in increments correin FIGURE 3. These locknuts can be adjusted on the screws at opposite sides of each housing so thatithe crosspins carried by the opposite bolts seat firmly in the. r

recesses of thelugs 27 to hold the housing against-rocking around the axis of the corresponding pivot 15.

The'vane 17 forms a partition between opposite end portions of its casing 18 so that a dilferential air pressure can be established at. opposite sides of'the vane for the purpose of, exerting a swinging force on the vane and," consequently, on the arm integral .with the vane. In'

order to enable such differential pressures to be estab- The outerends'of the axle 'aresplined and fit compleare bolted and keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the root portion of thebarking arm 14,'as shown in FIG- URE 2. 'The outer peripheries of these collars constitute trunnions 'journaled in the barking ring 1 to support the vane and its housing. Theangular relationship between the blade and the arm can be selectively altered by shifting the rotative positions of the collars 38;on the sponding to the coarseness of the splined connections.

It'will be evident that the'vane and arm canbe suitably I secured to their pivot in variousways.

During'rotationof the ring 111' the direction indicated 1 by the arrow in FIGURE 1, the centrifugal force acting FIGURES 4 and 5. The seal structure includes a central I i in a groove having an imperforate bot-tom '30iformed in the edge of the vane. In its relaxed condition in the vane strip 29 of elastoiner material such as neoprene received edge groove, as shown. in FIGURE '4, the strip has a height in cross sectionslightly greater tharrthe depth of such vane edge groove. It isdesirable to provide recesses" 31 in opposite sides of the strip to receive stiff backing Iligs 32 to prevent appreciable squashing-.outof. the strip e ge.

Such backing rings are made of plastic or metal,',

preferably having bearing characteristics, such as the a plastic Teflon. The recesses at opposite sides of the strip 29 are sufiiciently wide so that most of the Width of each ring 32 is received within its recess 3.1ofthe vane as shown" in FIGURE 4. This type ,of seal construction is provided along both longitudinal edges'and across't-he against the sides of the vane edge groove to prevent Y such air leakage.

The inner end of the vane 17 is integral with a hub 34 through which the pivot 15 passes to .forni an axle for l the vane. The vane has been described as being integral with the barking arm 14 and this is true in the sense. that the vane .and barking arm constitute a single swing- I able unit in each instance. Such unit, however, is com-.

posed of a number of assembled parts which are secured. together in fixed relationshipr Thus the vane 17 and arm 14' actually are separately secured to the pivot member or axle 15 which is journaled by bearings 35 in the housing18. The hub 34,.is secured to the axle'by a key 34 and the bearings 35 fit on shouldered portions of the axle as shown in FIGURE. 2 to prevent axial movement of the vane... Sealing means are provided between such hub and the housing in the f orm' of O-rings36 which encircle the opposite end'sof the'hub and bear against Y the inner periphery of the cylindrically, arcuate wall '23.

on the arms 14 "will tend to swing the tools,16 outward so that the arms and vanes rotate about their'pivots 15 -in a counterclockwise directiontoprevent the vanes 17 from striking theend walls 21 of the casings 18 by such action.- Consequently, it is necessary to supply a positive force to swing the arms inward and hold the barkingtools firmly against the log to eifect barking Such pressure is produced by supplying fluid under pressure to the housing 18 for. the. purpose of pressing vane 17in a direction. to swing the tool arm inward.

It will be evident that, when a'lo'g moving through the banking ring passes beyond the tool arm the force of the therefore, desirable to provide snubbing or cushioning mechanism for the purpose of arresting the movement of.

the vane and arm so that the vane will not be driven forcibly against the wall21 of the housing. Such cushioning mechanism is shown in FIGURES 3 and 6 asincluding a cylinder 40 having ath'readed neck 41 which is 'screwed into a threadedport in the end wall 21 of the housing 13 .1 The end of the cylinder 40 oppositetheneck 41 is closed by'a removable threaded plug 42. In this cylinder islslidably received aplunger 43 which has been inserted through the'end of the cylinder closed by the plug 42. This plunger includes an elongated portion whi-clrfits slidably in thebore oi the neck 41 and the portion of the plunger within the cylinder includes an annular ribj 44which slidably engages. the inner wall of the cylinder and a reduced or shouldered end portion 45.

A spring 46 received in the cylinder has one-end bearing on the shouldered portion 45 of the plunger 43 and its other end bearing onlthe plug 42 to urge the plunger into the housing 18 as far as possible.

'On the side of vane 17 adjacent to the end wall 21. of thehousing'is a pad 17' of rubb'er material located in position to engage the. end of'the plunger 43, as the vane --swings-towardthe end wall 21 to the posit-ion of FIG- URE 6." Inward swinging of the barking arm14 efiected by the pneumatic pressure on vane 17 would continue to i move the vane from the position. of F-IGURE G toward a the position of FIGURE Swhich would force the plunger 43 to theleft as seen in these figures opposed'by the force communicates with the hollow bore 49 extending through out the length, of the plunger and communicating with the portion offthehousing 18 between thewall ,21 and the vane. Consequently,thisportion of. the housing is in communication with the atmosphere through the bore 49 and registering ports 47 and 43 until the pad 17 begins to press the plunger 43 to the left as seen in FEGURE 3. Thereupon, the plunger port 4'? will be moved out of re istry with the cylinder port 48 so that the air remaining in the housing 18 between the vane 1'7 and the housing wall 21 will be compressed progressively to cushion further movement of the vane toward the wall 21. Such compression of the air will provide a snubbing action which will prevent the vane 1'7 being stopped abruptly and producing a shock as the barking arms 14 are forced inwardly as the log passes beyond them.

It will be evident that air may be supplied to the rotary ring 1 and the vane housing 1 8 in various ways. The particular construction shown in FIGURE 2 is representative. Air is supplied by pipe 50 to a passage 51 in the barking ring supporting structure from which it passes through a seal 52 to the pipe 53. This pipe is connected to the hose 54 which in turn is connected to wall 2% of the vane casing 18. The pressure of the air supplied may be varied by manipulation of the pressure control valve 55 so that the force exerted on the vane 17 can be altered to change the pressure of the barking tool 16 on the log.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a rotary ring log barker, an arm projecting from the ring inwardly, pivot means mounting said arm on the ring for swinging of its inner end about an axis extending parallel to the axis of the ring, a housing carried by said ring adjacent to said pivot means and having end walls disposed respectively in planes substantially parallel to the axis of said pivot means, a vane slidably fitted in said hOusing and connected to said arm for swinging therewith relative to said housing about the axis of said pivot means, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said housing between said vane and one of said end walls for swinging said vane in a direction to urge said vane toward the opposite end wall and the swinging end of said arm inwardly, and combined venting and pneumatic snubbing means carried by said opposite end wall and including a cylinder having a vent aperture therein and a plunger received in said cylinder, movable relative to such vent aperture and engageable by said vane to be moved thereby into position closing such aperture for snubbing swinging of said vane toward said opposite end wall.

2. A log barker comprising a rotary ring, an arm projecting from said ring inwardly, pivot means mounting said arm on said ring for swinging of its inner end about an axis extending parallel to the axis of said ring, said ring having a notch receiving and flaring outwardly from said pivot means, a housing of substantially sector shape having an angular extent less than the angular extent of such notch, received within such notch, means rockably guiding said housing for adjustment within such notch about the axis of said pivot means, anchor means interconnecting said ring and said housing for securing said housing relative to said ring in a selected adjusted position, a vane slidably fitted in said housing and connected to said arm for swinging therewith relative to said housing about the axis of said pivot means, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said housing for swinging said vane in a direction to urge the swinging end of said arm inwardly.

3. In a rotary ring log barker, an arm projecting from the ring inwardly, pivot means mounting said arm on the ring for swinging of its inner end about an axis extending parallel to the axis of the ring, a housing carried by the ring, a vane separate from said arm slidably fitted in said housing, disengageable means including one member carried by said arm and a separate member carried by said connectible in differs angular rela ionships for fastening together said va. c and said arm in a predetermined reiationship selected from a plurality of such different possible angular relationships for swinging of said vane and said arm relative to said housing about the axis of said pivot means, means supporting said housing for angular adiustinent relative to said ring, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said housing for swinging said vane and said arm.

in a rotary ring log barker, a rotating ring, an arm projecting from said ring inwardly, pivot means mounting said arm on the ring for swinging of its inner end about an axis extending parallel to the axis of the ring with said arm disposed at one side of the radius of said ring through sa d pivot means axis so that the action of centrifugal cc on cl arm as said ring rotates tends to swing said a n outward, a housing carried by said ring, a vane slidably ed in said housing and connected to said arm for swinging therewith relative to said housing about the axis of said pivot means, and pressurized gas supply means connected to said housing maintaining gas in said housing under pressure at such side of said vane as will efifect pressure on said vane in a direction to urge said arm inward in opposition to centrifugal force acting thereon and to follow depressions in the surface of a log and to hold said arm pressed against the log irrespective of outward swinging movement of such arm caused by its engagement with projections on the surface of such log.

5. in combination, an arcuate housing, a vane in said housing having an edge slidable relative to a wall of said housing, the edge of said vane having a groove extending lengthwise thereof, opening toward said housing wall and having an imperforate bottom, and a unitary strip of res'ient elastorner material received in such vane edge groove, having a height in cross section when in such vane edge groove slightly greater than the depth of such vane edge groove and said elastorner material strip having groove means extending lengthwise of its inner edge to enable such inner edge to be spread by fluid under pres sure passing from the opening of such vane edge groove between one vane edge groove side and the adjacent side of said strip to the bottom of such vane edge groove, the width of said resilient elastoiner strip being sufliciently nearly equal to the corresponding width of said vane edge groove that such spreading of such strip groove means presses the strip sides against the sides of such vane edge groove.

Sill

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,185,355 5/16 Smith. 2,469,182 5/49 Slater. 2,553,973 5/51 Keller et al 121-97 X 2,798,519 7/57 Hansel. 2,802,458 8/57 McDonnell et al 12l-97 2,802,495 8/57 Nicholson. 2,841,429 7/ 5 8 McCuistion 277-209 2,870,748 1/59 Hemphill 12197 2,903,028 9/59 Brundell et al. 2,973,978 3/ 61 Oppenheim. 3,030,934 4/62 Herbst 92-125 FOREIGN PATENTS 618,573 2/49 Great Britain.

WlLLl'AM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

MORRIS FRITZ, WALTER A. SCHEEL,

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Examiners. 

1. IN A ROTARY RING LOG BARKER, AN ARM PROJECTING FROM THE RING INWARDLY, PIVOT MEANS MOUNTING SAID ARM ON THE RING FOR SWINGING OF ITS INNER END ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF THE RING, A HOUSING CARRIED BY SAID RING ADJACENT TO SAID PIVOT MEANS AND HAVING END WALLS DISPOSED RESPECTIVELY IN PLANES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID PIVOT MEANS, A VANE SLIDABLY FITTED IN SAID HOUSING AND CONNECTED TO SAID ARM FOR SWINGING THEREWITH RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID PIVOT MEANS, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID HOUSING BETWEEN SAID VANE AND ONE OF SAID END WALLS FOR SWINGING SAID VANE IN A DIRECTION TO URGE SAID VANE TOWARD THE OPPOSITE END WALL AND THE SWINGING END OF SAID ARM INWARDLY, AND COMBINED VENTING AND PENUMATIC SNUBBING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID OPPOSITE END WALL AND INCLUDING A CYLINDER HAVING A VENT APERTURE THEREIN AND A PLUNGER RECEIVED IN SAID CYLINDER, MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SUCH VENT APERTURE AND ENGAGEABLE BY SAID VANE TO BE MOVED THEREBY INTO POSITION CLOSING SUCH APERTURE FOR SNUBBING SWITCHING OF SAID VANE TOWARD SAID OPPOSITE END WALL. 